My InBody results show a high abdominal fat percentage. What exactly is this, and why is it so important to monitor during weight loss?
Abdominal fat percentage indicates how much of your total body fat is concentrated around the midsection. This metric is far more critical than simple weight gain because excess visceral fat releases inflammatory substances that trigger insulin resistance. This creates a vicious cycle where your body struggles to use energy efficiently and stores it as fat instead, eventually turning you into someone who gains weight more easily even with a standard diet.
Many people overlook abdominal fat, thinking it's just a cosmetic issue, but it is actually a direct indicator of your body's overall metabolic state. Medically, visceral fat continuously releases free fatty acids into the bloodstream, which can lead to fatty liver disease and systemic vascular inflammation.
In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this condition is closely related to 'Dam-eum' (phlegm-fluid retention), where metabolic waste products fail to be excreted and instead accumulate as a thick, stagnant sludge in the body. If this is coupled with 'Bi-heo' (Spleen Deficiency)—a weakened digestive and transformative function—the problem worsens. When the Spleen's function is impaired, the body cannot efficiently convert food into energy, causing it to accumulate as '습' (dampness) and settle in the abdominal region.
Therefore, a high abdominal fat percentage is often a signal that your body's processing capacity is exhausted, rather than simply a result of overeating. This is why crash dieting is discouraged; it can exacerbate Spleen Deficiency and lead to rapid weight regain (the yo-yo effect). The priority should be 'switching on' your metabolism and clearing out stagnant waste. Let's work together to identify where your energy flow is blocked and restore your metabolic balance.
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